WORCESTERSHIRE'S resistance was short lived as Hampshire completed a 114-run victory with a minimum of fuss in the relegation battle at New Road.

Kyle Abbott registered his best bowling figures of the season to give the visitors a decisive edge in a Specsavers County Championship showdown.

The South African paceman ended with six wickets for 39 runs from 14 overs as Worcestershire, who resumed on 120 for eight, were swiftly dismissed for 133.

Abbott claimed one of the two remaining wickets as he followed up the first hat-trick of his career to finish with eight wickets across the match.

Hampshire’s third win of the season earned them 19 points and lifted them above Lancashire into fifth spot in Division One.

It enabled them to complete a double over their opponents and was the perfect response after last week’s hammering by an innings and 52 runs against reigning champions Essex at Chelmsford.

Their experienced international pace trio of Abbott, Dale Steyn and Fidel Edwards were a handful throughout for the home batsmen in seamer-friendly conditions.

Ball dominated bat from start to finish with the only half century registered by visiting wicket-keeper Tom Alsop.

While Hampshire have significantly boosted their hopes of survival, Worcestershire are now facing an uphill task to avoid an instant return to Division Two after back-to-back defeats.

They picked up only three bowling bonus points from this game and remain in bottom spot, four adrift of second-bottom Yorkshire and 17 behind Lancashire.

The challenge to survive does not get any easier as champions-elect Surrey head to New Road next week ahead of a visit to Essex and the final game of the campaign at home to Yorkshire, currently in the drop zone with Kevin Sharp's men.

Worcestershire resumed with Ross Whiteley unbeaten on 37 and Wayne Parnell 17 not out.

A cover drive for four by Parnell against Steyn brought up the half-century stand but Abbott’s first delivery of the day accounted for Whiteley who was beaten all ends up and bowled without addition to his overnight score.

Parnell and last man Dillon Pennington stuck around for nine overs but it was Steyn who ended proceedings when Parnell nicked through to Jimmy Adams at second slip on 26.

Hampshire recorded 191 in the first innings with Sam Northeast registering 48 from the middle of the order with Ed Barnard (6-50) starring for the hosts who struggled in response.

Opener Daryl Mitchell's 41 was as good as it got with Parnell's unbeaten 21 adding some hope in a total of 120 all out.

The visitors got off to a particularly rocky start to the second innings but steadied the ship through Alsop (64) and Liam Dawson (39).

Joe Clarke (33) responded when Mitchell went for a duck but again, Worcestershire could not muster a credible fight and Whiteley's efforts always looked likely to prove in vain.